Impatiens plant named ‘Balbigite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balbigite’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balbigite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balbigite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cartago, Costa Rica during December 2010. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars that perform well under both sun and shade conditions and have a vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Impatiens×hybrida cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatiens flaccida breeding selection coded N795, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatiens hawkeri breeding selection coded N786, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2011 in a controlled environment in Cartago, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2011 in Cartago, Costa Rica, Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balbigite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a larger leaf size, larger flower size and a more mounded growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a smaller leaf size, smaller flower size and a more spreading growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SUNPATIENS Vigorous White ‘SAKIMP010’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,616. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘SAKIMP010’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter colored leaves than         plants of ‘SAKIMP010’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have flower spurs that are shorter         than plants of ‘SAKIMP010’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a stem color different from         plants of ‘SAKIMP010’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balbigite’. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balbigite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balbigite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2014 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens×hybrida cultivar Balbigite. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens flaccida breeding             selection coded N795, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens hawkeri breeding             selection coded N786, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,             mounded-spreading growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 13.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches             per plant: Approximately 5.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately             9.5 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately 6.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 2.2 cm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: Closest to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:             Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite if only two             leaves at one node.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and             leaves are perpendicular to an obtuse angle to stem. Shape:             Elliptic. Margin: Serrulate, ciliate. Apex: Acuminate. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf             at center of stem: Approximately 9.5 cm. Width of mature             leaf at center of stem: Approximately 4.2 cm. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface             of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137A with venation             of 146D. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage:             Closest to 191A with venation of 146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balbigite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             7 to 9 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity             showing color per plant: Approximately 3.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: NN155A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Round, cupped when first open with petals             becoming flat with age. Diameter: Approximately 5.5 cm.             Depth: Approximately 1.1 cm. Borne: Above the foliage.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat.             Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate. Base of             upper petal: Truncate. Base of lateral and lower petals:             Attenuate. Length of upper petal: Approximately 2.4 cm.             Width of upper petal: Approximately 3.7 cm. Length of             lateral petals: Approximately 2.7 cm. Width of lateral             petals: Approximately 2.9 cm. Length of lower petals:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately             3.3 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color             of upper surface when first and fully open: Upper petal             NN155D blushed with 76C, the degree depends upon growing             temperature. Lateral and lower petals NN155D and 71B at             base; petal blushed with 76C, the degree depends upon             growing temperature. Color of lower surface when first and             fully open: NN155D.         -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 4.5 cm.             Diameter at proximal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at             distal end: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:             NN155D at base transitioning to 145A at tip.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Acute angle             to stem. Length: Approximately 4.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4 with one fused to base of             upper petal. Sepal arrangement: 1 spurred lower sepal             located between 2 side (lateral) sepals. Shape of lateral             sepals: Ovate. Shape of lower sepal: Ovate. Apex of all             sepals: Acuminate. Length of lateral sepals: Approximately             1.2 cm. Width of lateral sepals: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Length of lower sepal: Approximately 1.7 cm. Width of lower             sepal: Approximately 1.2 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces of all sepals: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower             surfaces of lateral sepals: NN155D blushed with 146B and             tips of 146A. Color of upper and lower surfaces of lower             sepal: NN155D blushed with 76C and tip of 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, fused around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Hooded.             Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: NN155D             with a faint overlay of 71B. Filament color: NN155D. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Stigma shape: 5-pointed star. Stigma color: Colorless,             transparent. Style color: 144A, darkens to 137A with age.             Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 144A, darkens to 137A             with age. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Impatiens has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balbigite’, substantially as herein shown and described. 